Tooth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that makes the surface of the teeth to appear whiter without causing any damage to the tooth’s surface. It is a quick, non-invasive & affordable way to enhance smile. Teeth whitening cannot turn the teeth brilliant white but it can be a very effective way of lightening the existing color.

“BLEACH YOUR TEETH TO A GET A BRIGHT WHITE SMILE “

Why teeth changes colour?

REASONS:

There are a number of reasons for the teeth color change which includes

• Food & Drink: Coffee, tea and red wine are the major staining agents. They have intense color pigments called chromogens which attach to the white, outer part of your tooth.
• Age: Overtime, the outer enamel layer gets thinner with brushing and more of the yellowish dentin shows through.
• Tobacco use: It causes stubborn stains due to tar & nicotine. Tar is naturally dark. Nicotine is colorless until it is mixed with oxygen. Then it turns into a yellowish surface staining substance.
• Trauma: Your tooth may change color when you have an injury to tooth. This is because it reacts to an injury by laying down more dentin, which is a darker layer under the enamel.
• Medications: Tooth stains can be a side effect of certain antihistamines, antipsychotics, high blood pressure medications, antibiotics like tetracycline & doxycycline, chemotherapy, head & neck radiation and excessive fluoride ingestion.

Teeth whitening – how it works?

Whitening products contain two bleaches such as Hydrogen peroxide and Carbamide peroxide that breaks stains into smaller pieces which makes the color less concentrated & your teeth appear whiter. It does not work on all teeth. Yellow teeth respond well to teeth whitening. Brown teeth does not respond well and gray tones do not bleach at all. Also, it won’t work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings. It is not effective if tooth discoloration is caused by medication or a tooth injury.

Teeth whitening options

We dental care professionals decide this based on the patient’s teeth. The following are the different ways to put the shine back in your smile.

• Stain removal toothpastes: Through the action of mild abrasives that scrub the teeth. Unlike bleaches, they do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove stains on the surface.
• In office bleaching or chairside bleaching: It is a single visit procedure where we will apply a protective gel to your gums or a rubber to protect your gums. Bleach is then applied to the teeth. In office whitening – limited time, powerful & fast acting hydrogen peroxide is used.

  “RESRORE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SMILE IN AN HOUR “

• At home bleaching: We will provide you with a custom-made tray for home whitening. Then we will give you instructions on how to place the bleaching solution in the tray & for what length of time. At home bleaching slower acting carbamide peroxide is used. By this method at a slower pace more comfortable whitening can be done. It can take from a few days to a few weeks.
• Over the counter bleaching products: It includes toothpastes or strips that whiten by bleaching your teeth.

Side effects:

• Tooth sensitivity that is temporary which happens when the peroxide in the whitener gets through the enamel to the soft layer of dentin & irritates the nerve of your tooth.
• Overuse of whiteners can also damage the tooth enamel or gums.

Teeth whitening – after care

We at Dental Care Professionals would likely to recommend you to,

• Avoid dark colored foods, beverages for at least a week after whitening.
• Sip dark colored beverages in a straw.
• Practice excellent oral hygiene brushing flossing after meals & at bed time.